Quality Monitoring Program (QMP)

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Quality Monitoring Program (QMP) helps address conditions in Texas nursing facilities (NFs) that could be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of residents. QMP is not a regulatory program and quality monitors do not cite deficient practices. Quality monitors prioritize visits to NFs that have a history of resident care deficiencies, or that have been identified as having a higher-than-average risk of being cited for significant deficiencies in future surveys conducted by the HHSC Long-Term Care Regulation staff. During these visits, the quality monitors — nurses, pharmacists, and dietitians may:

  • Recommend changes to policies or procedures
  • Conduct staff or in-service training
  • Offer technical assistance
  • Educate staff about evidence-based best practices

Evidence-Based Best Practices

QMP has developed evidence-based best practice frameworks for improving the quality of care provided to people living in Texas nursing facilities.

Long-Term Care Modules

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing are pleased to announce a collaborative effort to improve long-term care in Texas. This partnership includes updating eight web-based courses delivering best practices education to providers of long-term care in Texas nursing homes. The first two in the series of educational modules are available:

  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • Reducing Antipsychotic Use in Long-Term Care Facilities.

Each course provides education and resources for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, direct care staff, residents, and their family members. Continuing education credit is available for registered nurses, certified nurse aides and licensed nursing facility administrators. The information provided will help guide the decision-making process and improve care, using evidence-based best practices. This educational opportunity is provided free of charge.

To register and to find out more, visit Johnson-Turpin Center: Continuing Nursing Education | School of Nursing.

Nursing Facility Minimum Performance Standards (MPS)

House Bill (HB) 2658, 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021 amended the Government Code section 533.00251, adding Subsection (h) and directed the HHSC executive commissioner to adopt rules regarding the MPS for NFs that participate in STAR+PLUS.

For more information on the minimum performance standards, benchmarks, and resources, visit the Nursing Facility Minimum Performance Standards page.

Save the Date! 2024 Quality in Long-Term Care Conference

The 2024 Quality in Long-Term Care Conference (QLTCC) will be held at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, Aug. 28 – 29, 2024.

This year’s theme is “Quality Matters in Long-Term Care" (PDF).

The QLTCC will integrate research, evidence-based best practices, and applied solutions for improving the quality of long-term care services in Texas. 

The conference is free to attend, and continuing education will be available for various health care disciplines. For more information about this event, email UT Steve Hicks School of Social Work.

Long-Term Care Resources

QMP Resources has  training information, innovative interventions, and other tools.

Rules and Statutes

In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature passed the Texas Long-Term Care Facility Quality Improvement Act (Senate Bill 1839). This bill had several components, one of which was the Quality Monitoring Program for Nursing Facilities.

Based on that bill, the following state rules and statutes were created:

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